Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 20 May 2010

The Signing of the Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA)

Nuclear issue of Iran

Reaction from the Government of Japan to the report issued in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the sinking of Cheonan

VIP visits

Questions concerning the submission of a draft resolution regarding Iran to the Security Council

Question concerning the meeting between Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Foreign Minister of Australia

Follow-up questions concerning the submission of a draft resolution regarding Iran to the Security Council

Statement by Foreign Minister Okada on the situation in Bangkok

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Today I have several topics before inviting your questions.

We have distributed two sets of papers. The first is the statement by the Foreign Minister on the situation in Bangkok.

Yesterday, Wednesday 19 May, actions were taken by the security forces of Thailand against the demonstrators occupying the central area of Bangkok, the capital city of the Kingdom of Thailand. The clash between the demonstrators and the security forces has led to casualties. The Government of Japan is deeply concerned about this situation.

The Government of Japan is taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of the Japanese citizens living there through its embassy. Japan reiterates its request to the Government of Thailand to pay the utmost consideration to the safety of the Japanese citizens.

Japan hopes that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible and that order and stability will be restored. Japan also expects that due consideration will be paid to the safety of all the people, including foreigners.

We are concerned that yesterday several people were killed among other casualties, and we are closely watching the situation. We already conveyed this message to the government of Thailand, and as written in this statement, requested their efforts.

The Signing of the Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA)

Mr. Sobashima: The second topic, we distributed the paper entitled "The Signing of the Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA)"

Yesterday, this Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Australia concerning the reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan (JSDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) (Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement [ACSA]) was signed in Tokyo by my minister, Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and The Hon. John Faulkner, Minister for Defence of Australia.

Given the increasing opportunities for the JSDF and the ADF to cooperate in such fields as the UN Peace Keeping Operations and overseas disaster-relief operations, this Agreement sets forth a framework for the reciprocal provision of supplies and services for such activities as: exercises and training, UN Peace Keeping Operations, humanitarian relief operations, operations to cope with large scale disasters, transportation of nationals and others in overseas exigencies, or other routine activities.

It is expected that the conclusion of ACSA will promote cooperation between the JSDF and ADF with respect to the above-mentioned activities. The ACSA is also expected to actively contribute to international cooperation including efforts led by the United Nations toward international peace.

The Japan-Australia ACSA was signed after a total of two rounds of negotiations which started in March 2010 and reached an agreement substantially in April 2010. This is the second ACSA for Japan after the Japan-United States ACSA (entered into force in October 1996; revised in September 1999 and July 2004).

Just for your information, as stated here, Japan and Australia have cooperated in PKO operations such as that in East Timor and also disaster relief operations including for the large earthquake which occurred in the Indian Ocean several years ago. We also distributed a statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary explaining the relationship of this agreement and Japan's three principles on arms exports and collateral policy guidelines.

Mr. Sobashima: The third topic is about the nuclear issue of Iran. Japan is concerned with the current situation. As you know, now the discussions are underway for a new resolution. Japan is determined to play an active role in this regard. For your information, yesterday, there was a telephone conversation between my minister, Minister Okada, and his counterparts in Turkey and Brazil. The Turkish Foreign Minister and Brazilian Foreign Minister both explained the agreement Iran, Brazil and Turkey reached several days ago, and explained about their initiatives. To this my Foreign Minister appreciated the efforts of Turkey and Brazil, and he expressed his hope that the agreement will be implemented. At the same time, Minister Okada expressed his concern about the continuing situation on Iran, and in the wake of the submission of the draft resolution in the Security Council in New York, Japan intends to discuss this issue with those concerned including Turkey and Brazil. This is what Mr. Okada said in his telephone conversation with his Turkish and Brazilian counterparts.

Reaction from the Government of Japan to the report issued in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the sinking of Cheonan

Mr. Sobashima: You might be interested in the report issued in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the sinking of Cheonan. We understand that in due course some statement will be forthcoming. It may already have been delivered from the Government of Japan, but I would rather refrain from going into detail. Yes, there is a report issued, and a statement may have already been issued or forthcoming from the Government of Japan.

Mr. Sobashima: On the visits, the Prime Minister of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is in Tokyo, and he had a meeting with Prime Minister Hatoyama yesterday, and as you may know Secretary Clinton will be coming tomorrow, and my minister, Minister Okada will be having a meeting with Secretary Clinton.

These are the topics I would like to share with you at the outset. Now I would like to invite your questions.

Questions concerning the submission of a draft resolution regarding Iran to the Security Council

Q: When is Japan planning to submit its resolution about Iran?

Mr. Sobashima: It is not Japan, but actually I understand that it is the United States that has submitted the draft resolution. The draft resolution has been circulated among the members of the Security Council.

Q: It has already been circulated?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes.

Question concerning the meeting between Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Foreign Minister of Australia

Q: Do you have any information about the outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Australian Foreign Minister?

Mr. Sobashima: At this moment no, but as usual we presume that the Prime Minister's office will issue some sort of statement immediately after. Because the Australian Foreign Minister was expected to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hatoyama this morning, some kind of statement or the report may have been issued already. I don’t have it with me at the moment.

Follow-up questions concerning the submission of a draft resolution regarding Iran to the Security Council

Q: Is there any information about this draft on Iran, because it is already distributed?

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you very much for your question. However, I am not able to explain the points and the contents of the draft resolution because it is currently under negotiation among the members of the Security Council. The document is just a draft. It is not the final one, and there may be some comments from the members, so for that reason, among others, we are not able to give you the information on the contents of the draft resolution.

Q: What is the expected time schedule for the resolution.

Mr. Sobashima: As for Japan, we intend to play an active role in this process of negotiations, so for our part too, we hope, if there is consensus on the contents of the resolution, that the resolution should be adopted as soon as possible, but as the draft resolution is currently under negotiation, we would like to refrain from expressing our prediction on when it may be adopted.

Q: I read a report yesterday that the Iranian ambassador to Japan said in his speech that Iran is considering some kind of countermeasures if Japan approves or endorses the draft resolution. Do you have any reaction to his comment?

Mr. Sobashima: I read the news report, but we have not confirmed by ourselves what the ambassador actually said, and therefore there is no comment that I would like to make on behalf of the government. What is most important is not the sanctions, but the result which will be brought out. We hope that Iran would fully comply with its obligations and they would accept the request from the IAEA, etc. So what is most important is the outcome, not the sort of adoption of a document, but for us to ensure that Iran shouldn’t develop a nuclear weapons program, this is the most important thing. So Japan would like to cooperate with other countries concerned for this purpose.